Parsha Yitro
This is the Parsha that Bnei Yisrael become a nation!
We were slaves in Egypt, then we were free and then we wandered in the dessert and then we were gathered together, prepared for 3 days,and waited patiently. We stood at the foot of the Mountain, Har Sinai and we had no idea of what was going to happen…
Everything suddenly became quiet, not even the birds chirped, no animal made a sound, the wind didn’t blow, even the waves stopped crashing on the shore. Stillness, silence and then the greatest show in the world began…
“There was lightening and thunder , and there was a thick cloud on the mountain, the shofar sounded so loudly and strongly… and the whole mountain trembled…. and the voice of the Shofar became stronger and stronger…and all the people in the camp trembled, and were shaken and stood at a distance.(Exodus 19;16-18)”
This was a huge build up to stimulate each person’s senses- (eyes, ears, nose, mouth, body sensations, feelings) waiting with anticipation for the revelation to happen, the show to begin…
It was exciting, and frightening, and mysterious- all at the same time! People felt the awe and the wonderment and they waited…
And then, on the 7th day of Sivan, the Torah was given to the Jewish people, Am Yisrael! Moshe went up the mountain, and Hashem came down to meet him. (Rashi explains that Hashem’s love for His treasured nation was so great, that He came to Mount Sinai and waited for Israel.)
The Aseres HaDibros- The 10 commandments were given by Hashem on Mount Sinai (Har Sinai). Some Sages say they were given all in one utterance, some say the first 2 were given by Hashem and Moshe gave the people the rest, and there are many other interpretations.
What we do know is that “A voice went out and said…’I am Hashem, your G-d!’ The people heard,…it was loud, and strong, and booming.”
However, only Moshe was able to hear and understand because he had a very special and personal relationship with Hashem. Moshe was the chosen one to tell the people about the 10 Commandments,…. and the people heard him and understood and reiterated their pledge. ‘Na’aseh Ve Nishma‘- We will DO and then we will understand.
The 10 Commandments
(simplified language for children to relate to)
- I am the one and only G-d .
- Don’t pray to other G-d’s
- Use G-d’s name with respect
- Celebrate Shabbat every week.
- Love your Mother and Father
- Do not hurt anyone.
- Married people should love one another.
- Don’t take anything without asking
- Do not tell lies – things that aren’t true about other people
- Be happy with what you have- don’t be jealous.
Interesting Facts about Parsha Yitro
- Yitro was Moshe’s father in law. Moshe was married to Zipporah, his daughter.
- Yitro was a Minister of Midian, and a former advisor to Pharaoh and he converted to Judaism because he saw and heard about the miracles that Hashem did for the Jewish people.
- When he converted his name was changed – from Jether to Jethro- the letter vav was added to his name(Rashi).
- Yitro advised Moshe on how to organize the nations judicial system.
- The Shofar sounds on Mount Sinai that became stronger and stronger, were blown from the left horn of the ram offered by Avraham at the Akeida (Sacrificing the lamb instead of Yitzchak).
It is said that the right horn will herald the coming of the Messiah (Moshiach) (Pirkei d’R’ Eliezer). - The day that the Jewish people received the 10 Commandments, they were told that their collective destiny is to become a “Nation of priests, a Holy people“.
In order to achieve this goal, they had to acquire a sense of living for something ‘beyond’ their material reality. - The Torah was given to strengthen the relationship between Hashem and the Jewish people, fulfilling the prophecy to ‘Avraham’ of “being a blessing” and through him, “all the families of the world would be blessed.”
- We came together as a nation to receive the 10 Commandments in total unity, like a single person with a single heart. (Am Echad ve Lev Echad) ( check out the song)
Fun Activities- Arts and Crafts
A collage depicting Har Sinai and the giving of the Torah:
Draw the outline of the picture of Har Sinai.
Color in a paper with different shades of brown, or paint it. Tear/ cut small pieces and glue onto the paper, draw/paint sky and grass.
Glue small cotton wool balls for clouds, aluminum foil for lightening, real grass/ glitter for ground/ grass; for the flowers- paper cuts of stickers, on the mountain
Draw the ‘Aseret Hadibrot’ for the top of the mountain- make a ‘flap’ to cover it and ‘surprise’ -flap it down.
3 Dimension Mount Sinai:
Make this using ‘stuff ‘around the house-
Plastic cup, plastic plate, toothpick, paper, paints (see picture) Think out of the box…..Be creative!
Fun Foods:
Dessert– Har Sinai Cake
Use your favorite easy cake recipe!
Make a round cake, chocolate icing to cover the cake, green icing for the grass around the cake, flowers, (you can use fondant, icing, edible flowers, chocolate molds
(or square choc for the top- or graham crackers.)
For the ‘Luchot’- the 10 commandments:
Cupcakes- 10 with numbers on each one (each commandment) (Each person/child can talk about the ‘number they got) Main dish– Har Sinai Mountain
Upside down chicken and Rice Dish – It’s called ‘Maqluba’ (Sephardi dish but can also be vegetarian)- a different dish for a change and can become a family favorite- Yum!
Some ideas for cake decorations 
Share these ideas with your children and grandchildren and friends. Be inventive and intentional and you think of Parsha Yitro creatively.
Please feel free to share your interesting ideas with me- I would welcome them.
You can check out Parsha Yitro with Safta Laya on Youtube too!
Wishing you a Shabbat Shalom.
Love
Safta Laya
Loved all the ideas!!! Such nice activities for the children….
Thank you so much